Method and system for healthcare treatment planning and assessment

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a comprehensive assessment and planning system. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention employ a preventive approach to predicting the likelihood of an entity entering a degraded future state by computing a risk value that reflects that likelihood. An embodiment of the present invention applies to a comprehensive healthcare treatment and planning system. This healthcare system employs a preventive approach to healthcare by basing healthcare decisions on a multi-factorial computation of risk. The risk value is computed by evaluation of a finction that considers a variety of historic, environmental, and systemic behaviors and conditions. In addition to considering a risk value, a treatment plan developed in accordance with the healthcare system considers symptoms and objectives of the treatment from the perspective of both the patient and the provider. The outcomes associated with treatment and risk assessment are fed back into the healthcare system to increase its accuracy and subsequent effectiveness in computing risk values over time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method in a data processing system for determining an appropriate treatment for a patient by a provider, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving diagnostic data indicating a current state of a patient;    receiving data reflecting treatment objectives of the patient and the provider indicating a preferred treatment outcome;    receiving a plurality of treatment plans for preventing the patient from developing a disease;    computing a risk value for the patient, the risk value indicating a likelihood of the patient developing the disease and being responsive to the treatment plans based on a subset of the diagnostic data;    receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatment plans;    receiving an indication of a degree of success of the treatment plan in preventing the development of the disease;    comparing the degree of success with the treatment objectives to assess the effectiveness of the selected treatment plan; and    adjusting the computed risk value to increase an accuracy in determining the appropriate treatment.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of obtaining insurance pre-authorization for a treatment plan based on the risk value.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disease under examination is multi-factorial.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the computed risk value is adjusted consistent with outcomes of prior treatment.  
     
     
         5 . A method in a data processing system for determining an appropriate treatment for a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving diagnostic data reflecting a current state of the patient; and    computing a risk value reflecting a likelihood of the patient developing a disease based on a subset of the diagnostic data.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further including the steps of: 
 receiving a proposed treatment plan that reflects the computed risk value; and  
 analyzing the proposed treatment plan to determine a likelihood that the proposed treatment plan will prevent the patient from developing the disease.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the analyzing step includes: 
 receiving patient and provider objectives of treatment indicating a preferred treatment outcome; and  
 determining whether the proposed treatment plan is consistent with the patient and the provider objectives of treatment.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the analyzing step includes determining whether the proposed treatment plan is appropriate for the diagnostic data.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the analyzing step includes determining whether the proposed treatment plan is appropriate based upon prior treatment provided.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further including the step of adjusting the computed risk value based on prior outcomes of treatment to increase an accuracy in determining the appropriate treatment.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of receiving includes accessing the diagnostic data from a remote location.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the computing step includes adjusting the risk value based on prior outcomes of treatment to increase an accuracy in determining the appropriate treatment.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  further including the step of transmitting the computed risk value to an external source for pre-authorization of a treatment for the patient.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the computed risk value to an insurance company.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the computed risk value to an organization that makes policy decisions pertaining to healthcare benefits.  
     
     
         16 . A method in a data processing system for determining an appropriate treatment for a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving diagnostic data reflecting a current state of the patient; and    computing a risk value reflecting a likelihood of the patient being responsive to treatment based on a subset of the diagnostic data.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including the steps of: 
 receiving a proposed treatment plan that reflects the computed risk value; and  
 analyzing the proposed treatment plan to determine a likelihood that the proposed treatment plan will prevent the patient from developing the disease.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the analyzing step includes: 
 receiving patient and provider objectives of treatment indicating a preferred treatment outcome; and  
 determining whether the proposed treatment plan is consistent with the patient and the provider objectives of treatment.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the analyzing step includes determining whether the treatment plan is appropriate for the diagnostic data.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the analyzing step includes determining whether the proposed treatment plan is appropriate based upon prior treatment provided.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  further including the step of adjusting the computed risk value based on prior outcomes of treatment to increase an accuracy in determining the appropriate treatment.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the receiving step includes accessing the diagnostic data from a remote location.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the computing step includes adjusting the risk value based on prior outcomes of treatment to increase an accuracy in determining the appropriate treatment.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16  further including the step of transmitting the computed risk value to an external source for pre-authorization of a treatment for the patient.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the computed risk value to an insurance company.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the computed risk value to an organization that makes policy decisions pertaining to healthcare benefits.  
     
     
         27 . A data processing system, comprising: 
 a storage device including patient health information;    a memory containing a program with first code that computes a risk value related to the patient health information and with second code that updates the risk value according to subsequent computations of risk; and    a processor for running the program.    
     
     
         28 . The data processing system of  claim 27  wherein the program further includes third code for predicting the effectiveness of a proposed treatment plan.  
     
     
         29 . A data processing system including a client and a healthcare server, comprising: 
 a storage device including patient health information;    a memory including administrative software and a healthcare system that computes a risk value based on diagnostic data and that analyzes a proposed treatment plan that reflects the risk value, the risk value reflecting a likelihood of a patient developing disease and being responsive to treatment; and    at least one processor for executing the healthcare system and the administrative software.    
     
     
         30 . A data processing system including a client and a healthcare server, comprising: 
 means for receiving diagnostic data reflecting a patient's likelihood of developing a disease and being responsive to treatment;    means for computing a risk value based on a subset of the diagnostic data; and    means for analyzing a proposed treatment plan that reflects the computed risk value.    
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a healthcare server, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving diagnostic data reflecting a current state of the patient; and    computing a risk value reflecting a likelihood of the patient developing a disease based on a subset of the diagnostic data.    
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  further including instructions for: 
 receiving a proposed treatment plan that reflects the computed risk value; and  
 analyzing the proposed treatment plan to determine a likelihood that the proposed treatment plan will prevent the patient from developing the disease.  
 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the analyzing step includes: 
 receiving patient and provider objectives of treatment indicating a preferred treatment outcome; and  
 determining whether the treatment plan is consistent with the patient and provider objectives of treatment.  
 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the step of analyzing includes determining whether the treatment plan is appropriate for the patient's diagnostic data.  
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the analyzing step includes determining whether the proposed treatment plan is appropriate based upon prior treatment provided.  
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  further including instructions for adjusting the computed risk value based on prior outcomes of treatment.  
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  wherein the receiving step includes accessing diagnostic data stored at a remote location.  
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  wherein the computing step includes adjusting the risk value based on prior outcomes of treatment.  
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  further including instructions for transmitting the computed risk value to an external source for pre-authorization of a treatment for the patient.  
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the computed risk value to an insurance company.  
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the computed risk value to an organization that makes policy decisions pertaining to healthcare benefits.  
     
     
         42 . A method in a data processing system, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving information reflecting a current state of an entity; and    computing a risk value that indicates a likelihood of the entity entering an undesirable state.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  further including the steps of: 
 receiving a proposed strategy for preventing the entity from entering the undesirable state; and  
 requesting authorization from an external source before employing the strategy.  
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  further including the steps of: 
 receiving a proposed strategy for preventing the entity from entering the undesirable state; and  
 analyzing the proposed strategy to determine a likelihood of the entity entering the undesirable state when the proposed strategy is employed.  
 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  further including the step of receiving objectives of the entity and determining whether the proposed strategy is consistent with the objectives of the entity.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the analyzing step includes determining whether the proposed strategy is appropriate for the diagnostic information.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the determining step includes determining whether the proposed strategy is appropriate based upon prior results of executed strategies.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  further including the step of adjusting the computed risk value based on prior results of strategy invocations.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the receiving step includes accessing the diagnostic information from a remote location stored on a remote location.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the computing step includes adjusting the computed risk value based on prior results of executed strategies.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the receiving step includes receiving information reflecting a current state of a healthcare patient.